How much do goggle styles affect speed?

If you're still unsure as to the effects of goggles while swimming. Consider a potential real life scenario: You're on a nice sunday afternoon drive. You have your arm out the window palm forward just catching the breeze. Going twenty miles per hour, you barely feel any back pressure at all from the wind as you drive down your street. Note during this time, the breeze is pushing back on you, which is also pushing back on the car. You however are unable to notice a negligible difference in the power needed (RPMs) per MPH (20-25 MPH). Turning on to the interstate, you decide you're going to have some fun. You start speeding up more and more and more with both hands on the wheel. Before you know it, you're finally driving the speed of everyone else (~80-90 MPH) on I-294 (No seriously). You now put your hand out the window (cautiously) and you'll feel a MUCH strong push on your arm. However - sticking your arm out, and pushing it in - you're still very hard pressed to see a significant difference in the amount of power needed (RPMS) per MPH. FINALLY For some odd reason, you're also a super sonic car driver in the salt flats with an arm that can withstand the pressure of sticking out the window while driving. (MAGIC). Now you stick your arm out the window, and you may notice a relatively large jump in the amount of power necessary for your car to drive at 700 MPH. This is all due to the fun nature of aerodynamics. Basically - until you achieve a certain speed in your swimming (and I don't know your times you may already be there) you won't need to worry about goggle style.

I wear goggles that can cover my eyes, period. The Swedish lenses are too small for my eyeballs.

I have never seen a test of any kind on the goggle's contribution to elapsed time. I suspect the differences are so small that they may not be measurable - otherwise Speedo or some other company would try to market the advantage of their goggle. I race with Speedo Speed Sockets. They fit noticably closer to the face and have a relatively stiff and flat seal. I like them because they stick like mad - I do not worry about them coming off during a start. Their shape presents very little surface to catch water. But I don't like training in them. The seals are tiring for long periods of time and the lens is too close to my eyelashes.

If you're still unsure as to the effects of goggles while swimming. Consider a potential real life scenario: You're on a nice sunday afternoon drive. You have your arm out the window palm forward just catching the breeze. Going twenty miles per hour, you barely feel any back pressure at all from the wind as you drive down your street. Note during this time, the breeze is pushing back on you, which is also pushing back on the car. You however are unable to notice a negligible difference in the power needed (RPMs) per MPH (20-25 MPH). Turning on to the interstate, you decide you're going to have some fun. You start speeding up more and more and more with both hands on the wheel. Before you know it, you're finally driving the speed of everyone else (~80-90 MPH) on I-294 (No seriously). You now put your hand out the window (cautiously) and you'll feel a MUCH strong push on your arm. However - sticking your arm out, and pushing it in - you're still very hard pressed to see a significant difference in the amount of power needed (RPMS) per MPH. FINALLY For some odd reason, you're also a super sonic car driver in the salt flats with an arm that can withstand the pressure of sticking out the window while driving. (MAGIC). Now you stick your arm out the window, and you may notice a relatively large jump in the amount of power necessary for your car to drive at 700 MPH. This is all due to the fun nature of aerodynamics. Basically - until you achieve a certain speed in your swimming (and I don't know your times you may already be there) you won't need to worry about goggle style. That is some cool science. I think I'm the slow car. Now, do the bungee cords hanging off my sweedes make a difference? Those are the only goggles I can keep on during a dive, so I live with any discomfort they give me.

The low profile goggles are less likely to come off in a dive.Swedes aren't comfortable for me so I wear TYR Tracer TIs for meets.The difference in drag at swimming speeds between types is negligible I'm sure, so wear what's comfortable.

Wear what is comfortable, gives good visibility and won't come off on the dive. I think the effects on speed are negligible...unless they fill up with water or fall off on the entry.

Thanks all for your input. I'll feel less guilty to use whatever comfortable while others around me swim in their Swedes :D. The car example is great. Looks like it will take me a while to reach the level when goggle style matters for me. Right now, I'm bicycle level (may not be a bad idea to wear goggles to ride bicycle for experiment :D).

I find swedes to be very comfortable and they have great visibility. BTW Dara wears those giant old-school Speedo goggles. I don't think its an issue unless you are wearing a mask or something that can really catch the water.

I'm definitely the slow car. (No really, check out my times: www.usms.org/.../indresults.php ) Your straps on your bungies are pretty much the same way. You probably have to be swimming pretty fast (those sub 25 second SCY 50s) before that even BEGINS to make a difference. We should carpool. You beat me in the 50, but I got you in the 100. I'll have to make sure not to get my 50's under 25, lest I have to cut my cords!

That is some cool science. I think I'm the slow car. Now, do the bungee cords hanging off my sweedes make a difference? Those are the only goggles I can keep on during a dive, so I live with any discomfort they give me. The cords make little difference,but put your goggles on under your cap and they will make no difference.